Should we decriminalize marijuana? Liberal Senator says yes - what about you ?

Question

Wed Jul 11, 8:25 PM



By Jeremy Hainsworth

VANCOUVER (CP) - A B.C. Liberal senator says the federal government should decriminalize marijuana and "tax the hell out of it," with the revenue going to public services such as health care.


Senator Larry Campbell says too much time and effort is being wasted with criminal prosecutions for minor amounts of the drug while organized crime reaps massive profits from the drug's cultivation.
And, he says, a lot of police officers are looking the other way when it comes to busting people for having marijuana.
He said Wednesday it's a drain on officers' time to spend five hours producing paperwork for marijuana charges.
The drug should be treated the same way alcohol is with its production controlled and sales regulated, Campbell said.
"This is not a drug that causes criminality," he said. "People are getting criminal records for essentially nothing."

Answer 1

Yes, it should be decriminalized because we have been LIED to about it and its many many benefits. It was criminalized to protect the profits of Big Business.

Answer 2

Legallizing marijuana seems like the easiest thing to do, no doubt. However, its the lazy mans way out! I've seen first hand the effects marijuana can have on a person, and its not pretty. I know, every pot head will say "it doesn't affect you that much" or "you can't get addicted to the drug... just the high" or even "I'm smarter when I'm on weed". All of these are absolutly ridiculous and not true! Although there are some people that can handle themselves, or atleast think they can handle themelves on it, there are so many that cannot.
Not to mention that it is a gateway drug, once you've done pot, shrooms and then coke or something even worse can seem that much easier.

About treating it like alcohol-- how do you plan on detecting if a person is high while driving? The only real way to tell is through a blood test, which clearly violates human rights. Driving high is JUST as wrong as driving drunk. More problems will be caused by legallizing it, and "taxing the hell out of it" isn't going to get you anywhere!

Answer 3

I think marijuana should be legalized, controlled, and taxed.

The fact that it is illegal makes it more attractive to teens and, strangely, more freely available. If it were only being sold by legal distributors, they would be more diligent about selling it to teens.

It's no more dangerous than alcohol, so if one is legal, the other might as well be.

It gives farmers another cash crop to legally grow in place of tobacco.

You can tax it and use the money to fund anti-smoking campaigns.

It would relieve overcrowding in the prisons when all who are there on pot charges were released.

In the U.S. we are unable to grow industrial hemp because it looks too much like marijuana (though it has only a tiny fraction of the stimulant). Allowing industrial hemp would create a crop that could be used to make paper, cardboard, particleboard, and a dozen other products instead of cutting down trees for them.

Answer 4

I totally agree. Although I don't smoke anymore, it's an herb, not nearly as addictive or as bad for you as the chemicals in some of the common meds people are on these days (Paxil, Adavan, etc.) which you can get a doctor to prescribe very easily. Calming your nerves with a little herb makes a lot more sense to me that putting manufactured chemicals in your body. But that's just my opinion.

Answer 5

Lots of people are killed by drunk drivers and cocaine users. One is legal and one is not legal. Potheads aren't likely to do more damage. What's the difference? Cigarettes are bad for health too. Go ahead, make it legal though personally I wouldn't partake.

It's ridiculous to lock of potheads when sex offenders get off so easily.

PS Check out Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich for president!

Answer 6

Most people know how to moderate there use of weed. It should be legal! Just because it may not have a corporate name on it to make it legal doesn't mean its bad for you. One day I ran into a priest, and we got on the topic. He said " Weed is the devils drug! " My response was, " you claim God made the earth there fore he made grass. " He pondered that for a couple of minutes and then bid me a good day.

Answer 7

I say no. People who smoke it on a daily basis where it affects their life need help. I have no problem with people who do it once in a while, whatever. But I do know someone who is addicted, hides it (not well) and in turn dropped out of college, doesn't work, and is 24 living at home with his parents. He had so much to offer, and he's wasting away in his bedroom. For that reason, I think it shouldn't be a criminality so people can get the help they need, without question.

Answer 8

People should be able to do whatever they want whenever they so long as they to not infringe upon the rights of others.

It really makes me mad when other people try to decide what is morally right for everyone else.

Live your life and stay the heck out of mine.

Don't Tread on me!!!

Answer 9

Yes

Answer 10

Of course it should be legalized. One main reason.....everyone knows an obnoxious drunk. There has never been an obnoxious stoned guy. It's a very passive drug. (nicole....who said it's a stimulant???)